What’s the next big thing in Singapore for food? Looking at new Japanese cafes such as Maccha House, Dolce Tokyo, Hoshino Coffee, Saint Marc’s, Tsujiri Tea House and Nana’s Green Tea (so many!), I think it is Matcha.
Yes matcha, the fine Japanese powdered green tea which is said to boost metabolism, reduce cholesterol, and moderate stress responses. The reason why Japanese have long life?
When I first went to Nana’s Green Tea Café at Tokyo SkyTree Japan, I fell in love with the ambience, dessert, service and food. It was like Japanese tai-tai dream place to chit-chat about their children and pets. With 32 branches in Japan, it is termed as the “Japanese Starbucks”. But no offence to Starbucks, Nana’s Green Tea (in Japan) had this additional charm that is hard to put into words and difficult to replicate.
And so Nana’s Green Tea came to JCube Singapore. Wrong location. Closed. Next.
Plaza Singapura’s new The Atrium extension seems to be the right fit for Nana’s Green Tea Café, with many Japanese neighbours from clothing mega-store Uniqlo, semi-buffet restaurant Hifiumi, Nabemono place Tsukada Nojo, to café Hoshino Coffee.
Although Nana’s Green Tea is known to be a café, it also sells several main courses such as dons, udons and sushi rolls, with a more localised menu quite unlike the ones in Japan.
The Ebi Fried Curry Don I had was $14.80, and weekday lunch sets are pretty affordable at $13.90 with a beverage from Matcha, Hoji to Azuki.
Some of its dishes are fairly interesting-tasting, such as is Gyu Shabu Goma Dare Udon ($15.80) where you get cold udon noodles served with very thinly sliced beef. The special sesame sauce was lightly fragrant and not too heavy on its savour. I am not usually a thick noodle person, but their version makes it feel like healthy and manageble. I do wonder how many customers who are used to hot piping food, can fancy cold udon though.
Desserts, such as its Matcha Anmitsu ($8.80), are definitely its strength. It may not blow you away but makes a decent afternoon tea-time treat, with its azuki red bean paste smooth and satisfying. Its signature drinks include Matcha Latte ($7.00), MatchaShiratama Float ($9.00), Hoji Chocolate Latte ($8.00) and Genmai Cha ($5.50).
Perhaps it is the low awareness, lack of strong branding or a special X-factor, my guess is people would still rather choose a Starbucks green tea frappucino over a Nana Green Tea’s matcha latte. A pity really.
Nana’s Green Tea Café Giveaway!
Nana’s Green Tea Café will be giving away 5 complimentary lunch sets*
All you need to do is to
Step 1: LIKES the FaceBook page of Daniel’s Food Diary
Step 2: SHARE this post on Facebook or RETWEET on twitter
Step 3: Leave a comment below to name your favourite matcha drink or dessert.
Results will be announced 19th Feb (TUES). *Voucher terms & conditions apply.
Nana’s Green Tea Café
The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura 68 Orchard Road #03-80/82 Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) Tel: +65 6684 4312
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm
Other Japanese Restaurant Entries
Hifiumi (Plaza Singapura)
Hoshino Coffee (Plaza Singapura)
Dulcet & Studio (Liang Court)
Sushi Tei (Ngee Ann City)
Yayoiken (Bugis+)
